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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. lie — to recline
  3. fine — high quality
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. can — a tin
  10. fine — all right
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. bore — to drill
  15. stem — to come from
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. can — a tin
  19. bore — to tire
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. lash — an eyelash

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com